The LBA co-sponsored a Public Information Meeting on April 27th to answer questions surrounding Lovettsville's possible application for recognition on the National Registry of Historic Places as well as the Virginia Landmarks Register.  Such a recognition will help Lovettsville become the "destination" that is so critical to helping us grow our business community.  The Lovettsville Historic Society was also in sponsorship of the meeting, spearheading the campaign to obtain such a designation for the older part of the town.

    According to a spokesman for the Lovettsville Historical Society, funding for the architectural survey needed to seek Historical District recognition, has unexpectedly become available --  even though the amount of "cost-sharing" funds available from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources has generally been reduced due to the Commonwealth's budget constraints.

    The Town of Lovettsville was laid out in 1820 to serve the surrounding farming areas known as "The German Settlement," which had been settled in the 1730s.  By 1835 there were four general stores and numerous small manufacturing enterprises in the town. Throughout the 19th and the early 20th centuries, the town was a thriving commercial center, which enabled its residents and the surrounding area to be largely self-sufficient. Many of the commercial structures and residences from this period survive to the present day.

    The Town will seek registration for its proposed Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places, and also on the Virginia Landmarks Register. These designations are strictly honorary, and place no restrictions on property owners. They do, however, make property owners eligible for federal and state tax credits for rehabilitation and improvement of eligible structures.

    Mr. David  Edwards, the Director of the Northern Regional Preservation Office of the Department of Historic Resources, attended the meeting, and will be available to answer questions about this process.  The Lovettsville Town council has approved additional funding in support of this upcoming important designation for Lovettsville.

For further information, contact:
Edward Spannaus  540-822-9194, 703-727-9758

Vice President Broman reported that the April 5 “Candidate’s Forum” was an outstanding success.  The forum was held at the Lovettsville Elementary School.  More than 100 people attended the forum.  It was covered by at least two news papers.  The entire forum in available on the LBA home page.

 
Vice President Broman introduced the two speakers:  Warren Gwartney of Ecropolis Internet Solutions and Dan Snyder, Pleasants Development/Brunswick Crossing.

Warren Gwartney discussed how Social Media is changing the way business is being conducted.  Facebook and Twitter are examples of social media.  Warren reported that consumers are driving the social media through networking and community of interest.  As business people we want our customers to be able to easily locate us on these venues.  You want your home page to be attractive and effective for social media.  Your home page should be able to post videos, and easily book marked.  Social media influence people—word of mouth becomes an important way to promote your business.  Blogging influences your customers.  Warren Gwartney stated that social media is a very important way to build customer relationships and promote advertising.

Dan Snyder, Senior Project Manager for the “Brunswick Crossing” addressed the status of the Brunswick Crossing effort.  The development will have 1505 homes and shopping facilities when completed.  They do not have a large grocery store (Grade A) signed for the commercial district of the development.  Dan Snyder reported that businesses are reluctant to make commitments in this poor economy.  Pleasants Development, which is building Brunswick Crossing has invested some $25 million in infrastructure improvements.  Brunswick Crossing will be a “special tax district” for 30 years.  This means that the residence will be paying a special tax above the conventional property tax.  This special tax will be used to pay off the infrastructure costs.  Mr. Snyder closed his presentation by inviting LBA members to visit Brunswick Crossing.